Thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets of Kyiv and cities across the country to protest the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, in the most serious domestic political crisis Ukraine has faced since the full-scale invasion began. The removal of a minister widely credited with regaining the battlefield initiative has prompted a resignation in the Air Force command, a revolt within the ruling party, a suspension of output by a state-run media outlet, and open questions from the European Commission.
Demonstrators gathered outside the President's Office on Franko Square chanting "Reappoint!" and "Shame!" and holding signs reading "Don't mess with what works" and "Hands off Fedorov," Ukrainska Pravda correspondents reported from the scene. The public broadcaster Suspilne reported parallel demonstrations in Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia and Lutsk. The protests remained peaceful, with participants calling on parliament to reject the nomination of Fedorov's proposed successor and reverse the decision.
The dismissal came amid a wider government reshuffle. The Verkhovna Rada approved Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation on July 14, a step that entails the resignation of the entire cabinet, with parliament expected to vote on the new government on July 16. According to Ukrainska Pravda sources within the ruling Servant of the People faction, President Volodymyr Zelensky will not put Fedorov forward again and instead intends to nominate Ihor Klymenko, the acting interior minister, for the defense portfolio.
